Fish farm vessels salvaged as helicopter crews get tow on stricken cargo ship
Rescue crews have managed to get tow lines attached to the bow of the stricken cargo ship Eemslift Hendrika, which was carrying three new fish farming service vessels to Norwegian ship supplier Moen Marin when it got into difficulties in a storm on Monday.
Cargo in the hold shifted, causing the freighter to list dangerously to starboard and leading to the crew being airlifted to safety.
The tug Normand Drott was this morning starting to gently turn the ship around.
The plan is to tow the vessel into Breisundet outside Ålesund for further inspection.
State action
Last night, there was a danger that Eemslift Hendrika would drift ashore during the night, and the Norwegian Coastal Administration therefore declared state action. Rescue helicopters were sent out to the ship with rescue crews, to make an attempt to lower personnel on board to attach tow ropes.
They have now succeeded.
Two of the three service vessels and a pleasure craft remain on board the Eemslift Hendrika, but the biggest voat, the 26-metre AQS Tor, was washed overboard. It was recovered in an operation by another tug, the Stadt Sløvåg, last night.
